Apparatus for electric heating



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W. WOODEOLK 8a J. C. WHARTON. E S EOE. ELECTRIC HEATING, SMELTING, AND SEPARATING.

Patented Deo. 18,1894.

(No Model.)

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Patented D 18,1894.

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Patented 1360,. 18,1894.

Witnesses.: Q .7'

Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. WOODFOLK AND JOHN C. VVHARTON, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

APPARATUS TOR ELECTRIC HEATING, SMELTING, AND SEPARATING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 531,143, dated December 18, 1894.

Application tiled December l2, 1893. Serial No. 493,500. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, JOSEPH W. VOOD- FOLK and JOHN C. WHARTON, citizens ot the United States, residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Electric Heating, Smelting, and Separating; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an apparatus for electric heating, smelting, volatilizing and separating metals, ores, the., and its object is to provide an apparatus to accomplish such purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical apparatus or furnace, either open or closed, with an active or moving body or stream of electrically conductive water or other fluid, the momentum or impetus of which together with the force of adhesion by which it conforms to surfaces in contact with which it may be brought, renders it more or less independent of the earths gravity and capable of deflection and of maintaining forms or positions not practically attainable in virtually still or quiescent water in any ordinary vessel, thus facilitating the separation of the watery liquid from the molten lnatter as the process is carried out in pracice.

The invention consists in. the novel construction and arrangement of parts and essentially in so applying an active or moving stream of aciditied water or other electrically conductive Huid in contact with one electrode and in such proximity to the other or opposite electrode (which may be a bar of iron, a body of ore or similar material to be heated) as to permit or promote the formation of the electric arc between the adjacent parts of the two electrodes and the passage of the electric current through the intervening water or lluid. It is well known that when a bar of iron (for instance), connected to one pole of a battery, is immersed, to a greater or less extent, in a vessel containing acidulated wate;I in contact with the other or opposite pole of the battery, the generation of heat at the points of contact or proximity becomes very energetic and the water is decomposed, so that a gaseous envelope will form about the immersed portion of the bar giving such resistance to the electric current as to cause the bar of metal to be heated or even to melt and fall olf in drops or particles through the water into the bottom of the said vessel. To faciliate the manner of this heating or melting, to separate the water or other fluid from the melted matter, to keep the fluid in flowing motion and to use the same body of iiuid continuously is the essence of our invention.

In the foregoing described metal-melting process, which is well known, as stated, the molten metal must fall into the acidulated water contained in a vessel and no separation of the molten metal, as such, takes place, because, in the said process the metal is dipped down into a body of practically quiescent water (in the meaning of this specification) contained in a vessel directly beneath the bar of metal in the act of melting.

Our invention is designed to overcome this difficulty, also to more perfectly inclose and utilize the heat, to render the liberated hydrogen more available and to save volatilized matter, also to protect portions of the apparatus from excessive heat by the sheet of interposed owing liquid.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application Figure l shows a form of apparatus, in which the water partly encircles the metal to be heated or melted. Fig. 2 shows another form of apparatus (in section) in which the water flows over or against curved surfaces in an inclosed space. Fig. 3 is a sectional View of still a further modified form of ourinvention. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view, showing the walls K, provided with oxidizable material.

In Fig. 1 one pole of an electric source is attached to the electrode F, while the other pole is connected to the lining or other electrode e, to form the electric are.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the electric are is established by connecting one pole of an electric source to the electrode f, and the other pole to the walls K, the latter forming the other electrode.

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The same letters of reference denote the same parts throughout the Vseveral gures of the drawingsb Referring to Fig l, the exhaust pipe d has a lead or other electrically conductive lining e, to which one pole of a battery, (not shown in the drawings,) is attached, so as to form an electrode. The acidiiied water being forced through the said pipe d, forms an electrically conducting stream or sheet when it is brought in contact with or proximity to the bar of metal F, by placing the metal over or into the mouth of the separator G and connecting it directly with the other or opposite pole of the battery, thus having it form the other electrode. In this form the watcrmay be given a centrifugal force to assist the adhesion to the walls of the said cylinder,leav ing a central opening in which is placed the material to be heated or melted by the heat 0f the electric arc formed between the two electrodes of which the water forms a part in the combination.

Referring now to Fig. 2, two vessels A, and A', are employed, each containing acidulated water ct. The lower or bottom receptacle A, has a central funnel shaped crucible, receptacle or separator B, similar to that shown in the other figures of the drawings, except it is surrounded by the acidulated water, has the molten metal exit D, at its bottom, and the exit C, at its top, or some distance above the exit D, for the out-flow of the slag I. This receptacle or separator B, is connected to the top vessel A', by means of the walls K, forming a furnace with acidulated water channels fi, and 7c. Through the center of the vessel A', extends an open portion L, of the walls K, which projects above the acidulated water level, and through which the open ended hollowr electrode f, is inserted; its top end projecting above the said portion L, and its bottom end extending down through the surrounding walls K, of the furnace to the edge of the crucible or separator B. The poles of a battery, not shown, are secured to the said walls and to the hollow electrode.

M, denotes a body of ore, fuel or other material contained in the said hollow electrode to be acted upon by the heat produced by the arc between said body of ore or material and the acidulated water. The vessel A', having been supplied with water, the latter flows through the upper channels k, and il', down the sides of the walls K, through the lower channels 7o', and t', into the vessel A, from whence it is drawn by means of pipe fm, (or there may be more than one pipe) back to the upper vessel A', to create a continuous water pressure flow between the two vessels.

In operation the water is put into flowing motion by means of a suitable pump. The ore fuel or fluxing material to be heated or reduced is poured or run into the hollow electrode f, from its upper end,and the electric current is turned on through the electrodes. The electric arc is then formed between the lower extremity or terminal of the hollow electrodef, and the inner sides of the walls K, which form the other electrode, in close proximity to the said end of the hollow electrode, thus producing the heat necessary for the fusion and reduction of the ores and slag, also acting electrolytically on the water, liberating its elements, oxygen and hydrogen, the latter of which is designed to act upon the ores and aid in their reduction, in some cases, and, in other cases to promote the heating by means of its combustion with air, which may conveniently be injected with thewater by a proper arrangement of the pump-nozzle or in any other suitable way.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, the oxygen liberated from the water by the electric current is designed to be re-absorbed or combined by oxidizable matter, such as carbon, lead, iron, dac., in contact with the water and forming part of the electrode K, in solid form, as shown at O; or the oxidizable material may be diffused through the flowing water or liquid in the state of line subdivision or powdered form o, which leaves the vessels through the apertures O. The hollow electrode f, has a suitable cover P, placed over its top; such top having connected to it one member p, ot' an exhaust fan Q, the said member being provided with a stop cock q, to open or close the passageway of the gases as may be desired. The said cover is employed when the cock is closed to confine the vapors within the furnaces, and to force the said vapors through the chamber and its channels with the water or liquid, thus condensing and retaining the metals, which may be volatilized by the intense heat of the electric arc. Vhen the said cock is open, a forced draft is made through it upwardly, so as to direct the heat through a more extended volume of the material to be melted as the case may demand, while at the same time combustible gases and air may be drawn or forced through the said material in the condition of flame at a high temperature.

We do not wish to be understood as limit ing ourselves to any particularposition of the active or owing stream of water with relation to the materials to be heated or melted, to the course of the water either in a curved or straight line, nor to the particular construction of the vessel in or about which the melting takes place.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with an electric heat ing and smelting apparatus having means for circulating a body of water, of the hollow electrode through which the material to be treated is fed, the electrode K, surrounding said hollow electrode and through which the water circulates, and the connections from an electric source to the said electrodes, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with an electric heat- IOO tol;

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ing and smelting apparatus having meansfor circulating a body of water, of the hollow electrode through which the material to be treated is fed, the electrode K, surrounding the hollow electrode and through which the water circulates, the oxidizable material O, arranged upon the electrode K, so that the Water will come in contact with it,and the connections from an electric source to the said electrodes, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination with an electric heating and smelting apparatus, the electrode through which the material to be heated is fed, the electrode K, through which the water circulates having oxidizable material arranged in contact with the water, the water -basin or vessel with which the electrode K,

is provided, and the connections from an electric source to the electrodes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4.. In an electric heating, smelting and separating apparatus in which is circulated a body of water, the combination of the vessels for containing the water, means for forcing the water from one i vessel to the other, the separator located in one of the vessels, the walls forming one electrode and provided with water channels, the hollow electrode between the said walls and extending through one of the said vessels, and the electrical connections from the electrodes to an electric source, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. n

5. The combination in an electric smelting and separating apparatus, the electrode K, having liquid or Water channels, the oxidizable material secured to the said electrode so that the liquid or water will engage the material, and the oxygen liberated from the liquid will be reabsorbed by the said material, the hollow electrode f, extending through the electrode K, and through which electrode f, the material to be smelted is fed, the cover P, the stop cock q, to open or close the passage way of gases, or to force the vapors through the said liquid or water channels, substantially as set forth.

6. In an electric smelting apparatus provided with means for supplying a moving body of liquid, the Vessels containing the liquid, means for conveying the liquid from one vessel to the other, the electrode through which the liquid is passed, the electrode containing the material to be smelted, means connected to this electrode to make a draft through it, or to confine the vapors within the other electrode, as desired, for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination with the furnace forming one electrode, through which acidulated water is circulated, of the other electrode through which the material to be melted is passed, the exhaust fan connected to this electrode, and the electrical connections from an electric source to each of the said electrodes, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH W. WOODFOLK. JOHN C. VVHARTON.

Witnesses:

J. W. GAINES, S. B. WILLIAMSON. 

